LLM-Powered Programming: Mech Suit, Not Replacement

The author built two apps using Claude Code, finding that LLMs don't replace programmers but augment their abilities. It drastically speeds up coding, but requires constant vigilance to correct AI's flawed decisions and maintain architectural integrity. Experienced programmers better harness AI tools, while inexperienced ones risk being misled. The future emphasizes architectural thinking, pattern recognition, and judgment; programmers must learn to collaborate with, not be replaced by, AI.